In the Still of the Night

you do?“ he asked, as she took his arm and led him toward the yellow parlor.
    “I make hats and do a bit of sewing for people in the village.”
    This obviously pleased him. “I like young people with initiative,“ he said. “I believe perhaps that this era will be a turning point where people who use their own skills will prevail as the founders of our country once did. It’s not easy, but if you have the self-discipline, nobody can fire you or cut back your hours of gainful work. Which is happening to far too many people these days.”
    Lily was trailing them along, thinking that Phoebe had already made a conquest. And no wonder she herself hadn’t. As far as West knew, Lily and Robert were just part of the idle rich. The mansion seemed to say that. If he only knew...
    Julian West’s entrance created quite a stir. Addie was pouring herself another tiny glass of sherry, which she nearly dropped when he came into the parlor. Lily made a point of introducing Addie to him first even though she knew the ‘senior’ woman, Mrs. Ethridge, should have had the honor. Addie was, for once, nearly speechless, and stuttered a few words of welcome and said that she’d read all his books and had really and truly looked forward to meeting him, but never thought she’d have a chance, and then her former student had invited her... She suddenly stopped and said, “I’m babbling. People must often react to you that way.”
    West stared at her for a moment and merely said, “Yes. They sometimes do.”
    Bud Carpenter had rather suddenly and silently appeared behind West. “Captain West doesn’t often meet the public, ma’am, and considers it a great pleasure.”
    West turned on his man and for a second Lily wondered if he were going to go into a rage and strike him. But he merely balled his fists, glared at Carpenter for a moment and said, “My man seems to think that I can’t speak for myself.”
    And you probably shouldn’t. Not when you’re being rude to my friend, Lily thought, but Addie didn’t seem to have taken his remark as insulting. She was still spellbound.
    There was a faint stir from the other side of the room, where Lorna Pratt Ethridge had risen gracefully from a comfortable armchair and was approaching. A faint cloud of a light floral perfume accompanied her.
    “Julian,“ she said softly.
    West stared at her.
    “Oh, Captain, here’s Miss Pratt,“ Bud Carpenter said. “Imagine that. Miss Lorna Pratt after all these years.”
    West took her hand and chivalrously bent over it to bestow an almost-kiss. “Dear Lorna, how very long it’s been.”

    “Be careful, Julian. You’ll make everyone think I’m terribly old,“ she said in her oddly sultry voice. “Never say it. You are still eighteen in my eyes.“ Bud Carpenter smiled.
    Lily just gawked. Mrs. Ethridge had mentioned once knowing Julian West, but this exchange seemed to indicate that they had known each other very well, probably intimately. Or perhaps it was the woman’s flirtatious manner when she was attempting to impress a man. If so, Lily could see how she’d snagged Addie’s fiancé. And perhaps Julian West felt chivalry was appropriate for a woman nearly his own age.
    “I haven’t been eighteen for quite a while, Julian. And neither have you,“ Mrs. Ethridge was saying in a whispery voice as if they were alone. “Do you remember—“
    “Excuse me, Captain,“ Bud Carpenter said. “Would you like me to mix you a drink?“
    “No, I’ll fix one for myself,“ he said, and went to the sideboard.
    “And Miss Pratt is fond of cherry brandy as you remember,“ Bud called after him.
    “So I am,“ she said with surprise. “And it’s Mrs. Ethridge now, Bud.“
    “And is Mr. Ethridge with you?“ he asked. “No, I’m a widow.”
    Lily couldn’t figure it out. Sergeant Bud Carpenter was chatting with Mrs. Ethridge as if they were old friends. But he was Julian West’s servant. His valet. Probably his butler at West’s home. This was very odd. And yet, when she and Robert and the Prinneys dined together at Grace and Favor, their maid Mimi served dinner and ate at the table with them. If she and Robert could change their standards with changing times, so could anyone else, she supposed.
    When Julian West had provided Mrs. Ethridge with her cherry brandy, Lily stepped in and forced West to be introduced to Cecil Hoornart, who had been hovering somewhat angrily.
    “You must meet another of our guests,“ Lily said.